Oslo, Bergen & Norwegian Coast Cruise

Your summertime tour cruise vacation starts as your plane touches down in Norway's capital city, Oslo. On arrival, you can use the efficient Norwegian rail system to reach our central four-star hotel, close to Oslo Central Station and the celebrated Norwegian Opera House. 

This innovative green city is regularly commended for its progressive architecture, and with a people-friendly center that is becoming increasingly car-free with more large green spaces, it is pioneering a new future for European cities. After checking in for an overnight stay, you are welcome to begin getting your bearings in this exciting destination.

Return to the hotel this evening to meet the Tour Manager and your group of fellow travelers, and then together we walk to a nearby restaurant for our first Norwegian dinner. Overnight Oslo.

• Dinner

This morning is one of the highlights of the tour - a journey aboard the iconic Bergen Railway, northern Europe's highest and most beautiful line, on its spectacular journey to Bergen.

From Oslo's center and suburbs, we head west into the countryside and the backdrop to our journey becomes more beautiful, as blue skies and green forests contrast with snow-capped peaks and azure fjords. After a couple of hours, we reach Flå in the Hallingdal Valley, where the Hallingdalselva River flows to Lake Krøderen. Our train climbs up to the Hardangervidda mountain plateau, the largest in northern Europe. The highest point of the Bergen Railway is the tiny village of Finse, from which point we descend towards glistening fjords, before approaching Voss, encircled by mountains.

An hour later, we reach Bergen, whose most distinctive feature is the brightly painted wooden buildings on the Bryggen waterfront, a UNESCO World Heritage site. On arrival, we walk to our hotel for a two-night stay, where there is time to relax or maybe stroll along the atmospheric waterfront before dinner. Overnight Bergen.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After a leisurely breakfast, we set off on a guided walking tour of Bergen. This attractive harbor city, once Norway's capital, is surrounded by seven striking mountains and renowned for the brightly painted buildings of its waterfront area, a UNESCO-listed area known as the Bryggen.

Its picturesque wharf was once the center of the old Hanseatic port, a key hub in trade between Norway and the rest of Europe. Our tour ends around midday, after a ride on the Fløibanen funicular, which has spectacular views across the surrounding countryside and countless scenic islands.

The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your own pace and you could start with a visit to the fish market for some freshly caught lunch. This afternoon you could visit the Bryggens Museum to gain insight into everyday life in medieval Bergen and see the world's largest collection of runic inscriptions. You dine independently this evening and traditional Bergen offers a surprisingly wide choice of international cuisine. Overnight Bergen.

• Breakfast

After a morning at leisure in Bergen, the next awe-inspiring experience of your summer journey begins. Transferring by coach to Bergen port - the gateway to the Norwegian fjords - we begin our incredible cruise along Norway's stunning coastline. Here, we board our modern, environmentally friendly ship for a six-night journey.

Havila's ships are one of the most comfortable ways to explore the northernmost part of Norway and are equipped to ensure we can relax and experience the jaw-dropping scenery in style. An observation lounge on the top deck has recliners under a glass roof, in case of cooler weather. There are two restaurants and a café on board, as well as a sauna and a gym where all the machines face the windows.

After settling into our interior cabins and perhaps finding a seat to look out from the top deck, we enjoy dinner onboard this evening, before commencing our northbound voyage with an overnight sailing to the distinctive town of Ålesund. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Waking to views of the rugged Norwegian coast after the first night of our voyage north, we pass the ports of Florø, Måløy, and Torvik. After breakfast on board, we dock in Ålesund for the day, a town renowned for its art nouveau architecture, beautiful brick-built houses and warehouses.

You are free to spend the day at leisure in this enchanting town. Walk along the waterfront among the unusual mix of architecture - a result of the rebuilding which occurred after 1904 when a fire destroyed many of Ålesund's original wooden buildings - or find out more about the town's history in the Ålesund Museum. Another option is to book one of the excursions on offer, such as a mini-cruise into the spectacular Geirangerfjord.

Lunch is served aboard the ship, or you may like to try some locally caught fish. A specialty is the salted dried cod known as klippfisk, which is reputed to be pretty salty! We return to our ship in the late afternoon, and, over dinner, our journey continues into the dreamlike landscape of fjords, islands and mountains. Overnight ship

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, we dock in the historic city of Trondheim, founded more than a thousand years ago and known as the "Viking City." There's time to look around and discover more of the city's intriguing history before lunch, maybe visiting the Nidaros Cathedral, Norway's national shrine and one of the largest cathedrals in northern Europe. It is also possible to book a guided tour of Trondheim as an optional excursion onboard.

Back on board, our voyage north continues out into the open water of the fjord, traveling through an amazingly picturesque archipelago. We pass the Kjeungskjær Lighthouse, a bright red octagonal structure situated at the meeting point of Trondheimsfjord and the North Sea, before navigating the narrow strait of Stokksund on our way to the coastal town of Rørvik.

After dinner onboard, as we sail towards Bodø you may like to sit out on the observation deck to experience the unusual sight of the Midnight Sun. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Continuing our voyage north, we cross the 66.5 degrees northerly latitude, celebrating as we enter the Arctic Circle. In Bodø, we can disembark and explore or enjoy views of the harbor and mountains.

Optional excursions to book onboard include a Bodø city tour or sea eagle spotting. Back at sea this afternoon, we catch our first glimpse of the steep granite cliffs and silvery beaches of the Lofoten Islands. Described as Europe's most dramatic and spectacular isles, the Lofotens are home to small fishing communities.

This evening, we disembark at Stamsund for an unforgettable experience, traveling back in time to dine with a Viking chieftain. After driving to the Lofotr Viking Museum in Borg, we enter a 272-foot-long house, where we are welcomed to take our seats at a lavish Viking banquet, in the great hall of the Viking chief. Servers in traditional costume provide us with an authentic meal of lamb, vegetables, barley groats, cranberries and bread with sour cream and butter. Our meal is accompanied by Mead (or a non-alcoholic alternative) along with singing and dancing in true Viking style. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Gliding past remote coastal towns this morning, we catch glimpses of everyday life in the region before disembarking in Tromsø, the largest city in northern Norway.

Here you can make the most of more optional excursions or spend time at Tromsø's unique modern cathedral. Built in the 1960s, the cathedral is a pyramid of aluminum and glass, with amazing stained-glass windows. It is also possible to book a tour of Tromsø Museum (payable locally) to learn more about Sámi heritage and traditions. Other galleries and museums include the Polar Museum and the Troll Museum, dedicated to trolls and fairytales, which showcases Norwegian folk beliefs and the mythical creatures of Norway.

Re-boarding our ship, we cruise through serene summer waters where we may spot orcas, humpback whales and various Arctic birds. Overnight ship.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today takes us to Norway's northern coast, where the Arctic and Atlantic oceans mix. In these summer months, we may chance upon herds of reindeer as the northernmost strip of land here is dotted with settlements of indigenous Sámi people whose main sources of livelihood are reindeer herding and fishing.

We disembark at Honningsvåg, situated in a bay on the southeastern side of Magerøya island, to discover the world's most northerly fishing village. Your afternoon is then free to spend as you wish. Before leaving the ship, optional excursions to book and pay for include a trip to the North Cape plateau with time at the Northern Cape Hall visitor center, snowshoeing and ice fishing, or bird watching. Later, there's the chance to book another unique optional excursion - a cruise across to Kjøllefjord to learn about the traditional way of life of the Sámi people.

Continuing northward, we cruise overnight towards Kirkenes - a journey which occurs entirely in sunlight - and we can experience the natural wonder of the evening sunset merging into sunrise. Overnight ship.

*Please note: The midnight sun phenomenon is visible only during June and July departures.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After passing the easternmost town in Norway, Vardo, our cruise reaches its final destination, the Arctic city of Kirkenes. Situated on the border of Finland and Russia, overlooking the Barents Sea, this city is known as "King Crab city" due to its abundant shellfish, especially this highly prized species.

After disembarking this morning, we transfer to Kirkenes airport before a flight back to Oslo, where we spend the final two nights of our Nordic adventure at the same hotel where our vacation began.

Tonight, you are free to dine independently, and you may like to try one of the restaurants, brasseries or bistros along the harbor promenade of Bjørvika, Oslo's new cultural quarter. Enjoy some familiar favorites at an international restaurant or try some Norwegian delicacies like fresh fish, Kjøttkaker meatballs or reindeer. Overnight Oslo.

• Breakfast

Waking in the thriving historic and cultural city of Oslo, we head out after breakfast with an expert guide on a three-hour walking tour, starting at the famous Oslo Opera House nearby. This distinctive all-white auditorium is designed to appear as if rising from the water like a glacier. Visitors are encouraged to walk on the sloping roof, weather permitting, to enjoy views across Oslofjord.

We continue to the Akershus Fortress, a medieval castle with glimmering twin spires. From here, we explore Kvadraturen - Oslo's oldest existing district, the Renaissance town of King Christian IV of Denmark, where a few 17th-century buildings remain.

With a free afternoon, you could visit one of Oslo's renowned museums such as the Viking Ship, the National Museum, or the Edvard Munch gallery which houses Munch's most famous work, The Scream. You could also watch the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace. This evening, we enjoy the final dinner of our Nordic vacation together. Overnight Oslo.

• Breakfast, Dinner

On this extensive summer exploration of Norway, we have discovered the exciting cities of Oslo and Bergen and experienced the spectacular route of the Bergen Railway, before our epic voyage north into the land of the Midnight Sun. While cruising into enchanting scenery, we have been introduced to local culture and tradition in unique towns and cities such as Ålesund, Tromsø and Trondheim.

After breakfast at the hotel this morning, your vacation comes to a close. You can use the Norwegian railway system to reach Oslo airport and make your way home at leisure.

• Breakfast